Current status of laparoscopic emergency surgery in Korea: multicenter restrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Laparoscopic surgery is a choice in several emergency settings. However, there has been no nationwide study or survey that has compared the clinical use of laparoscopic emergency surgery (LES) versus open abdominal emergency surgery (OES) in Korea. Therefore, we examined the state of LES across multiple centers in Korea and further compared this data with the global state based on published reports. Methods: Data of 2,122 patients who received abdominal emergency surgery between 2014 and 2019 in three hospitals in Korea were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Several clinical factors were investigated and analyzed. Results: Of the patients, 1,280 (60.3%) were in the OES group and 842 (39.7%) were in the LES group. The most commonly operated organ in OES was the small bowel (25.8%), whereas that for LES was the appendix. In appendectomy and cholecystectomy, 93.7% and 88.0% were in the LES group. In small bowel surgery, gastric surgery, and large bowel surgery, 89.4%, 92.0%, and 79.1% were in the OES group. The severity-related factors of patient status demonstrated statistically significant limiting factors of selection between LES and OES. Conclusion: Although our study has several limitations, compared to the LES data from other countries, the general LES state was similar in appendectomies, cholecystectomies, and small bowel surgeries. However, in gastric and colorectal surgeries, the LES state was different from those of other countries. This study demonstrated the LES state and limiting factors of selection between LES and OES in various operated organs. Further studies are required to analyze these differences and the various limiting factors.

Impact of an Acute Care Surgery Model on the Management of Acute Appendicitis in South Korea: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The acute care surgery (ACS) system is a new model for the prompt management of diseases that require rapid treatment in patients with acute abdomen. This study compared the outcomes and characteristics of the ACS system and traditional on-call system (TROS) for acute appendicitis in South Korea. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study included all patients (aged ≥18 years) who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis in 2016 and 2018. The TROS and ACS system were used for the 2016 and 2018 groups, respectively. We retrospectively obtained data on each patient from the electrical medical records. The independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used for continuous and nonnormally distributed data, respectively. RESULTS: In total, 126 patients were included. The time taken to get from the emergency room admission to the operating room, operation times, and postoperative complication rates were similar between both groups. However, the length of the hospital stay was shorter in the ACS group than in the TROS group (4.3 ± 3.2 days vs. 7.2 ± 9.6 days, p=0.039). CONCLUSIONS: Since the introduction of the ACS system, the length of hospital stay for surgical patients has decreased. This may be due to the application of an integrated medical procedure, such as a new clinical pathway, rather than differences in the surgical techniques.

Current status of initial antibiotic therapy and analysis of infections in patients with solitary abdominal trauma: a multicenter trial in Korea.

PURPOSE: Proper use of antibiotics during emergency abdominal surgery is essential in reducing the incidence of surgical site infection. However, no studies have investigated the type of antibiotics and duration of therapy in individuals with abdominal trauma in Korea. We aimed to investigate the status of initial antibiotic therapy in patients with solitary abdominal trauma. METHODS: From January 2015 to December 2015, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients with solitary abdominal trauma from 17 institutions including regional trauma centers in South Korea. Both blunt and penetrating abdominal injuries were included. Time from arrival to initial antibiotic therapy, rate of antibiotic use upon injury mechanism, injured organ, type, and duration of antibiotic use, and postoperative infection were investigated. RESULTS: Data of the 311 patients were collected. The use of antibiotic was initiated in 96.4% of patients with penetrating injury and 79.7% with blunt injury. Initial antibiotics therapy was provided to 78.2% of patients with solid organ injury and 97.5% with hollow viscus injury. The mean day of using antibiotics was 6 days in solid organ injuries, 6.2 days in hollow viscus. Infection within 2 weeks of admission occurred in 36 cases. Infection was related to injury severity (Abbreviated Injury Scale of >3), hollow viscus injury, operation, open abdomen, colon perforation, and RBC transfusion. There was no infection in cases with laparoscopic operation. Duration of antibiotics did not affect the infection rate. CONCLUSION: Antibiotics are used extensively (84.2%) and for long duration (6.2 days) in patients with abdominal injury in Korea.

Clinical Outcomes of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is usually performed on patients with chronic underlying diseases in the general ward (GW). This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of PEG performed on patients in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) compared with those of PEG performed in the GW. METHODS: The medical records of 27 patients in the SICU and 263 in the GW, who underwent PEG between January 2013 and July 2017, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The median age of the 27 SICU patients was 66 years, and their median body mass index was 21.1 kg/m2. In the SICU group, the median baseline Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was 4, and the median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score was 16. The median interval between surgery and PEG in SICU patients was 30 days, with a PEG failure rate of 3.7%. Acute complications in SICU patients included bleeding (7.4%) and ileus (11.1%), while chronic complications included aspiration pneumonia (7.4%) and tube obstruction (3.7%). The rates of acute and chronic complications did not differ significantly between the SICU and GW groups. The 30-day mortality rate was 14.8% in SICU patients and 5.3% in GW patients (p=0.073). CONCLUSION: PEG is a safe and feasible method of enteral feeding for critically ill patients who require ICU care after surgery.

Feasibility, safety, and functional recovery after active rehabilitation in critically ill surgical patients.

BACKGROUND: The characteristics of critically ill surgical patients differ from those of medical patients. Few studies have evaluated rehabilitation in surgical intensive care units (SICUs), particularly in non-Western countries and in elderly patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the rehabilitation characteristics, safety, and functional recovery in non-Western SICU patients. METHODS: Data from patients who received active rehabilitation in 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical characteristics, functional recovery, and safety were investigated and compared in patients aged <65 or ≥65 years. Potential safety events were also compared between the two age groups and according to the reason for SICU admission. RESULTS: Data from 157 patients were included in the analysis. The number of patients who were able to stand or walk increased from the beginning of rehabilitation to the time of ICU discharge (from 52 to 102 patients, P < 0.01). The Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) score also increased during rehabilitation (from 11.6 to 13.9, P < 0.01). Functional recovery did not differ between the two age groups. During 780 rehabilitation sessions, 23 potential safety events (3.0%) were noted; no significant differences were seen between the two age groups. A significant difference was noted when patients were grouped according to the reason for SICU admission (1.7% in postoperative care patients vs 4.5% in patients admitted for other reasons, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Active rehabilitation in critically ill surgical patients is feasible and safe and resulted in improved mobility, regardless of age. However, the reason for SICU admission should be considered.

Antibiotic use in patients with abdominal injuries: guideline by the Korean Society of Acute Care Surgery.

PURPOSE: A task force appointed by the Korean Society of Acute Care Surgery reviewed previously published guidelines on antibiotic use in patients with abdominal injuries and adapted guidelines for Korea. METHODS: Four guidelines were assessed using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument. Five topics were considered: indication for antibiotics, time until first antibiotic use, antibiotic therapy duration, appropriate antibiotics, and antibiotic use in abdominal trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock. RESULTS: Patients requiring surgery need preoperative prophylactic antibiotics. Patients who do not require surgery do not need antibiotics. Antibiotics should be administered as soon as possible after injury. In the absence of hollow viscus injury, no additional antibiotic doses are needed. If hollow viscus injury is repaired within 12 hours, antibiotics should be continued for ≤ 24 hours. If hollow viscus injury is repaired after 12 hours, antibiotics should be limited to 7 days. Antibiotics can be administered for ≥7 days if hollow viscus injury is incompletely repaired or clinical signs persist. Broad-spectrum aerobic and anaerobic coverage antibiotics are preferred as the initial antibiotics. Second-generation cephalosporins are the recommended initial antibiotics. Third-generation cephalosporins are alternative choices. For hemorrhagic shock, the antibiotic dose may be increased twofold or threefold and repeated after transfusion of every 10 units of blood until there is no further blood loss. CONCLUSION: Although this guideline was drafted through adaptation of other guidelines, it may be meaningful in that it provides a consensus on the use of antibiotics in abdominal trauma patients in Korea.

Early (≤48 Hours) versus Late (>48 Hours) Surgery in Spinal Cord Injury: Treatment Outcomes and Risk Factors for Spinal Cord Injury.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical management of spinal cord injury (SCI) is challenging. There is no standard guideline regarding the timing of surgery, although physicians have prioritized early surgery over the past decades. Although better outcomes have been observed from these studies, the definition of early surgery has been controversial, although mostly limited to 24-hours after injury. For some hospitals, this early surgery could be difficult to implement in practice. Hence, we re-evaluated the timing of early surgery as surgery within 48 hours and investigated the surgical outcomes of SCI depending on whether surgery was performed early (≤48 hours) or late (>48 hours). The primary outcomes were improvement in the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade in early and late surgery groups. METHODS: This study was a retrospective cohort study in individuals aged 15-85 years, who underwent surgery for SCI between 2005 and 2016. The rate of AIS grade improvements was measured at 6 months after injury. Of the 86 enrolled patients, 31 (mean, 40.9 ± 12.64 hours) and 55 (mean, 168.25 ± 93.01 hours) patients were assigned to the early and late surgery groups, respectively. RESULTS: AIS grade improvement was significantly greater in the early than in the late group (P = 0.039). In the early group, there was no significant difference in neurologic improvements among the AIS B, C, and D groups, but the AIS A group showed a significant improvement (P = 0.015). This finding was not observed in the late group (P = 0.060). AIS grade improvement was also significantly greater in the incomplete SCI group than in the complete SCI group, for all measurements (early, P = 0.007, late, P = 0.009). Other factors that significantly affected clinical outcomes were AIS grade on admission and the level of the injury.

Prevalence of Malnutrition in Hospitalized Patients: a Multicenter Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is associated with many adverse clinical outcomes. The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients in Korea, evaluate the association between malnutrition and clinical outcomes, and ascertain the risk factors of malnutrition. METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed with 300 patients recruited from among the patients admitted in 25 hospitals on January 6, 2014. Nutritional status was assessed by using the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Demographic characteristics and underlying diseases were compared according to nutritional status. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors of malnutrition. Clinical outcomes such as rate of admission in intensive care units, length of hospital stay, and survival rate were evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of malnutrition in the hospitalized patients was 22.0%. Old age (≥ 70 years), admission for medical treatment or diagnostic work-up, and underlying pulmonary or oncological disease were associated with malnutrition. Old age and admission for medical treatment or diagnostic work-up were identified to be risk factors of malnutrition in the multivariate analysis. Patients with malnutrition had longer hospital stay (SGA A = 7.63 ± 6.03 days, B = 9.02 ± 9.96 days, and C = 12.18 ± 7.24 days, P = 0.018) and lower 90-day survival rate (SGA A = 97.9%, B = 90.7%, and C = 58.3%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Malnutrition was common in hospitalized patients, and resulted in longer hospitalization and associated lower survival rate. The rate of malnutrition tended to be higher when the patient was older than 70 years old or hospitalized for medical treatment or diagnostic work-up compared to elective surgery.

Feasibility of Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy with a Light Source in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Although percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) under bronchoscopic guidance is feasible in the intensive care unit (ICU), it requires extensive equipment and specialists. The present study evaluated the feasibility of performing PDT with a light source in the surgical ICU. METHODS: The study involved a retrospective review of the outcomes of patients who underwent PDT with a light source performed by a surgery resident under the supervision of a surgical intensivist in the surgical ICU from October 2015 through September 2016. During the procedure, a light wand was inserted into the endotracheal tube after skin incision. Then, the light wand and the endotracheal tube were pulled out slightly, the passage of light through the airway was confirmed, and the relevant point was punctured. RESULTS: Fifty patients underwent PDT with a light source. The average procedural duration was 14.0 ± 7.0 minutes. There were no procedure-associated deaths. Intraoperative complications included minor bleeding in three patients (6%) and paratracheal placement of the tracheostomy tube in one patient (2%); these were immediately resolved by the surgical intensivist. Two patients required conversion to surgical tracheostomy because of the difficulty in light wand insertion into the endotracheal tube and a very narrow trachea, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PDT with a light source can be performed without bronchoscopy and does not require expensive equipment and specialist intervention in the surgical ICU. It can be safely performed by a surgical intensivist with experience in surgical tracheostomy.

Aortic Dissection in a Survivor after Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

We describe a case of traumatic aortic dissection associated with cardiac compression in a patient with anaphylactic cardiac arrest who underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A 54-year-old man who was scheduled to undergo surgery for gastric cancer went into cardiac arrest caused by an anaphylactic reaction to prophylactic antibiotics in the operating room. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was performed. CPR, including chest compressions, was performed for 35 minutes, and the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) after spontaneous circulation returned. The patient received ECMO for 9 hours until confirmation of normal cardiac function on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Twenty days after cardiac arrest, an aortic dissection and fractures in the left fourth and fifth ribs due to chest compression were detected by abdominal computed tomography. The DeBakey type III aortic dissection extended from the distal arch of the thoracic aorta to the proximal level of the renal artery, involving the celiac trunk. It was considered an uncomplicated type B aortic dissection with no sign of malperfusion of the major vessels. This case demonstrates the potential traumatic injuries that can occur after CPR and encourages proper management of mechanical complications in cardiac arrest survivors.

The duration of intra-abdominal hypertension strongly predicts outcomes for the critically ill surgical patients: a prospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is associated with morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. The present study analyzed the clinical significance of IAH in surgical patients with severe sepsis. METHODS: This was a prospective study carried out in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU). Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) was measured three times a day via a urinary catheter filled with 25 mL of saline. IAH was defined as an IAP ≥ 12 mmHg, and the peak IAP was recorded as the IAP for the day. Data were analyzed in terms of IAH development and the IAH duration. RESULTS: Of the 46 patients enrolled in the study, 42 developed IAH while in the SICU. The development of IAH aggravated the clinical outcomes; such as longer SICU stay, requirement of ventilator support, and delayed initiation of enteral feeding (EF). The IAH duration showed a significant correlation with pulmonary, renal, and cardiovascular function, and enteral feeding. The IAH duration was an independent predictor of 60-day mortality (odds ratio: 1.196; p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: The duration of IAH is a more important prognostic factor than the development of IAH; thus every effort should be made to reduce the IAH duration in critically ill patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01784458.

World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) guidelines for management of skin and soft tissue infections.

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) encompass a variety of pathological conditions ranging from simple superficial infections to severe necrotizing soft tissue infections. Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are potentially life-threatening infections of any layer of the soft tissue compartment associated with widespread necrosis and systemic toxicity. Successful management of NSTIs involves prompt recognition, timely surgical debridement or drainage, resuscitation and appropriate antibiotic therapy. A worldwide international panel of experts developed evidence-based guidelines for management of soft tissue infections. The multifaceted nature of these infections has led to a collaboration among surgeons, intensive care and infectious diseases specialists, who have shared these guidelines, implementing clinical practice recommendations.

2013 WSES guidelines for management of intra-abdominal infections.

Despite advances in diagnosis, surgery, and antimicrobial therapy, mortality rates associated with complicated intra-abdominal infections remain exceedingly high.The 2013 update of the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) guidelines for the management of intra-abdominal infections contains evidence-based recommendations for management of patients with intra-abdominal infections.

Complicated intra-abdominal infections in a worldwide context: an observational prospective study (CIAOW Study).

Despite advances in diagnosis, surgery, and antimicrobial therapy, mortality rates associated with complicated intra-abdominal infections remain exceedingly high. The World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) has designed the CIAOW study in order to describe the clinical, microbiological, and management-related profiles of both community- and healthcare-acquired complicated intra-abdominal infections in a worldwide context. The CIAOW study (Complicated Intra-Abdominal infection Observational Worldwide Study) is a multicenter observational study currently underway in 57 medical institutions worldwide. The study includes patients undergoing surgery or interventional drainage to address complicated intra-abdominal infections. This preliminary report includes all data from almost the first two months of the six-month study period. Patients who met inclusion criteria with either community-acquired or healthcare-associated complicated intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) were included in the study. 702 patients with a mean age of 49.2 years (range 18-98) were enrolled in the study. 272 patients (38.7%) were women and 430 (62.3%) were men. Among these patients, 615 (87.6%) were affected by community-acquired IAIs while the remaining 87 (12.4%) suffered from healthcare-associated infections. Generalized peritonitis was observed in 304 patients (43.3%), whereas localized peritonitis or abscesses was registered in 398 (57.7%) patients.The overall mortality rate was 10.1% (71/702). The final results of the CIAOW Study will be published following the conclusion of the study period in March 2013.

Outcomes of hemodynamically stable patients with pancreatic injury after blunt abdominal trauma.

BACKGROUND: To date there is no systematical report about blunt pancreatic injury focused on hemodynamically stable patients. This study reports on our experience in this rare subgroup at a tertiary referral hospital. METHODS: A total of 58 adult patients were identified during a 10-year period and their clinical data were analyzed. Injury to the main pancreatic duct (MPD) was basically confirmed by pancreatography or surgical findings. RESULTS: MPD disruption was confirmed in 36 patients (62%) and was more frequent in the pancreatic neck and body. The median time from trauma to confirmation was 14 days [interquartile range (IQR) 3-23 days] including time from admission to confirmation of 10.5 days [IQR 3-20 days]. Patients with MPD injury showed higher injury severity score, more frequent pancreas-specific complications and longer hospital stays. The sensitivity and specificity of initial computed tomography (CT) for MPD injury were 63.9% (23/36) and 81.8% (18/22), respectively. The mortality rate was 7%, and all deaths were directly attributed to pancreatic injury. Complications occurred in 22 patients (37%) and 17 developed during hospitalization. Time from trauma to confirmation of MPD disruption (odds ratio 1.132; 95% confidence interval 1.021-1.255, P=0.019) was the only independent factor associated with unfavorable events among patients with high-grade injury. CONCLUSIONS: MPD injury was not infrequent in hemodynamically stable patients. Physicians were more responsible for the delay in diagnosis of MPD disruption, which was primarily associated with adverse outcomes. A rapid, multidisciplinary approach may lead to better outcomes in hemodynamically stable patients with blunt pancreatic injury.

Non-invasive ventilation for surgical patients with acute respiratory failure.

PURPOSE: Acute respiratory failure is a relatively common complication in surgical patients, especially after abdominal surgery. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is increasingly used in the treatment of acute respiratory failure. We have assessed the usefulness of NIV in surgical patients with acute respiratory failure. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of patients who were admitted to a surgical intensive care unit between March 2007 and February 2008 with acute respiratory failure. The patients who have got respiratory care for secondary reason such as sepsis and encephalopathy were excluded from this study. RESULTS: Of the 74 patients who were treated with mechanical ventilation, 15 underwent NIV and 59 underwent invasive ventilation. The causes of acute respiratory failure in the NIV group were atelectasis in 5 patients, pneumonia in 5, acute lung injury in 4, and pulmonary edema in 1, this group included 3 patients with acute respiratory failure after extubation. Overall success rate of NIV was 66.7%. CONCLUSION: NIV may be an alternative to conventional ventilation in surgical patients with acute respiratory failure. Use of NIV may avoid re-intubation in patients who develop respiratory failure after intubation.

Fatal peripheral candidal suppurative thrombophlebitis in a postoperative patient.

We report a case of fatal fungal peripheral suppurative thrombophlebitis, caused by Candida albicans, which was disseminated to the blood, lungs, eyes, and spine. Clinical suspicion and aggressive management are important in managing fungal peripheral suppurative thrombophlebitis. Early clinical suspicion is important in managing fungal peripheral suppurative thrombophlebitis, and radical excision of the affected veins, recognition of metastatic foci, and use of systemic antifungal agents are essential to avoid septic shock and death.